Going Home David Dominic Bell
Daylight is slowing fading away. I find myself walking the snowy path of a tiny traveling carnival. The skies are a chalky gray and I feel lost and alone. The intense cold seeps through my bones and I can't stop shivering.
Not anyone else here, I think to myself. I wonder why I am here. The cold wind whips around the booths and the snowand air is getting colder. the cranival seems like it is deserted. I wonder if it has stayed open for me. It is getting colder, but for some reason I can't leave.
It is as if I am lost, drifting, looking for something, but for what I'm not really sure. As i walk along the path, o see the empty gaces that should be here until I realize that this is my journey. I must take this journey alone.
Finally, I come across one booth that has remained opened. At first, I'm tempted to hurry my steps untill I become frozen in life's mirror.
"Want to try your luck?" the man in the booth asks me.
The booth holds one of those baloon dart games. I must admit that I'm not very good at carnival games. I hesitate for a brief second and decided to give the game a try. the man in the booth refuses my money. It takes several times, but I finally win a small stuffed brown dog. I am as proud as a peacock and and I can't wait to show someone my prize.
"Better get to your wife," the man says.
"Is she here?"
He points to a large wooden covered open eating place. As I walk away, he closes the booth down. Sitting under the roof is Judy and my granddaughter Sabrina. The roof is covered with snow and I'm afraid that Judy is getting cold. I hand her my coat.
"Look what I won," I say as I hand her the dog. She smiles, and I'm glas I did something to make her smile.
"Doesn't she look good?" Sabrina says.
It is true, my Judy does look good. It is as if the two years of bone cancer has been erased from her body. Her eyes twinkle as she takes my hand. I kiss her on her cold cheek. I know that I should say something, anything but the words are locked deep inside my soul. Why can't I speak? I should tell her that I love her and need her.
I look at my watch, and in the fog of my mind I hear, "time of death 11:35."
Judy lets go of my hand, hands me my coat and begins to walk away. She is my love, my everything.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
She stops, turns around and smiles at me, "I'm going home."
"I love you," are my last words to her. I'm not ready to lose her, but I'm glad that she is no longer in pain. I know that her spirit and memories will be with me during this difficult time.
As i start waking from my dream, I know that Judy can't come back to me.
" Sabrina says.